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NEW DIRECTION; OLD PATHS...

This blog has been evolved several times since its inception. It started as a platform for a writer's musings Then it became a witne...

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Birth Announcement

Well - the post below entitled "Gestation" states I would be giving birth soon - and indeed, I did.

I personally have never actually been pregnant, although I do have a young son that came to us when he was just a few weeks old, so I cannot say how accurate this analogy is...

However, since the birth of my new "baby" it has been as if I'd forgotten I was pregnant and forgotten the labor as I struggle to get a acquainted with this new "infant" and the joys and process of nurturing this new addition to my life. And, I'd forgotten I'd written "Gestation".

Well - the post below says I'd scheduled a cesarean section which implies a fairly immediate birth and scheduled arrival. So, if I'm keeping with the analogy, I would say perhaps labor started on the day I was to have surgery and instead of going ahead with the cesarean, the doctor in charge (God Himself) said, "No surgery, you will go through labor no matter how long it takes."

I think I had a false labor in June - the date of my scheduled cesarean. And I had another false labor in August - but the birth of my baby actually was September 12, 2008!

And - the post below says I would upload not only the birth announcement, but pictures also. Ha! Pictures have been taken, but I don't have them so instead I will give you the standard statistical information required for each true birth announcement.

Name of Baby: My call from the Lord to teach, preach and make disciples "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:12

Birthdate: September 12, 2008

Weight: Matthew 11:28: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Because I am "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in due season; my leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever I do shall prosper."

Length: Matthew 28:20: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Posted by ~Pastor D at 1:31 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Gestation...

Here is a snippet of truth...

Our God given purpose is like an egg cell in the ovary of a woman. When a female is born it is said that we already have all the eggs we'll ever have. Some will ripen to ovulation, most will not.

And just like that egg cell, I believe we are born with the seed of God's given purpose for our lives - lying dormant until ripened into fruition. Sometimes it does... most times it does not.

And like a little girl who dreams of getting married and having babies, we often dream of growing up and fulfilling some grand purpose for our lives. And even though girls dream of a life with children - they almost never dream of pregnancy, morning sickness, labor pains and cesareans. And they absolutely cannot envision exactly what day those children will be born, what they will look like, how they will act or what grades they'll get in school.

And so we grow dreaming of a purpose but cannot actually, truly know what that purpose will be. We must wait for and hope for the implantation of thought that gestates into an idea, that labors into activity and finally is birthed into reality.

Here's some "womanly" information you may not want to know the details of: Some women can "tell" when they are ovulating. They experience some aching, some cramping, moodiness and maybe some spotting. Yuck.

But I say, there is the same kind of discomfort when the seed of purpose is ripening as well.

I was going through this pre-cycle discomfort for a while prior to attending a business seminar in Dallas, TX this past April. And without knowing it - my formerly barren womb of opportunity was actually ovulating my seed of purpose. One thing led to another and wham, bam thank you ma'am - two weeks later I'm waiting on a phone call like waiting on a pregnancy test. Let me back up a moment.

I must confess that when in Dallas I did not fall in love with my future - I did not get a quickie marriage to my purpose. No... instead it was as if I had an illicit one-night-stand weekend! Truth be told, it was as if I had to sneak around whenever I mentioned this possible purpose. It was frowned upon as a no-no and if I am to continue with the analogy, it was as if the leaders of this conference were arranging a marriage for me and were suggesting adoption for my barren womb of purpose. Oh, but the weekend was filled with such passion and emotion and excitement that I could not be lured away from my two-night affair with destiny.

Like an adoptive mother waiting to be matched, I waited for two-weeks for that call that would confirm my marriage and adoption. But admittedly, while I waited... I took care, and continued to do all the right things... just in case I was truly "pregnant" with truth.

Sure enough, days before the call my purpose test turned positive - the seed of truth had ripened, been fertilized, implanted and had begun it's quiet gestation. Weeks later, like a trip to the doctor, a local prophet whom I had only met a few times confirmed my "pregnancy" by confirming my purpose with such accuracy there was no more denying my truth.

It has been a short gestation, but it has not been without it's morning sickness, anticipation, anxiety, excitement and glorious joy at the mere thought of my future.

And now I am proud to say that on this Friday I am scheduled for a Cesarean - a forced birth of purpose, if you will. And I cannot wait! Trust me, I know that after this purpose is born there will still be all the ups and downs of parenting responsibility to contend with. My new "baby" will get sick and will have growth spurts. My new "baby" will grow and get stronger, maybe get ornery, will try to give me trouble and will always be a joy.

It is impossible to envision exactly what my new purpose will look like, but I have a pretty good idea and I am already in love! But come this Friday all things will change as I finally give birth and am able to properly parent my Presidential purpose.

I will upload a birth announcement with pictures of my new baby...

Posted by ~Pastor D at 7:16 PM 0 comments

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Just Shy; Not Shy!

Can you believe it!?

It is just shy of 6 months since my last post.

And boy, oh boy! So much has happened, so much has changed, so much is going on!

First let me say, what you are about to read is the manifestation of God at work! It is the realization of answered prayer and it is the premonition of FANTASTIC things to come!

So, I finished T.D. Jake's "Reposition Yourself" and it was the impetus for everything that has happened since then. It is also the reason you can disregard everything else written in my post 6 months ago!

1) On Nov. 17 the DCS, Inc. auxiliary company Jubilation! Weddings & Events did a 30/50 birthday party for a miserable client and her niece who both got drunk, got mean, got violent and passed out. Consequently the client did not pay the balance of her bill - $1000 - for 3 months, until I excused her of her debt and prayed for the unhappiness in her and her family's lives. Subsequently I have laid to rest that business venture. Not because of the client but because working during the prime hours I want to spend with my son is not the direction I want to move in.

2) During December my interim business with "Baby Signs, Inc." held a class of 3 adorable infants. One (who paid by check) dropped out inexplicably and the Destination Christian Services, Inc. merchant account would not accept payments from the other two who did complete* the class. Consequently I lost money on this class because of the rent I was paying for the facility and all the money spent on marketing (education) efforts. (*) One of my 2 students missed a class and car trouble, missing equipment and scheduling would not allow us to get a make up class rescheduled. Subsequently I have laid this business venture to rest. Not because of the clients, but because teaching infants to sign is definitely not the career I want to be known for at the end of my life.

3) Finally, the inherited 4-plex I was suffering with for almost 2 years, was sold! Praise God, hallelujah! We were able to refinance and afford our new house and set aside money for our retirement, J-man's college fund and make some investments as well. Consequently this also meant no more rent money coming in each month. And with no lucrative businesses desperation set in.

4) Just prior to finishing "Reposition Yourself" (after all of these circumstances had transpired) a girlfriend gave me Loral Langemeier's The Millionaire Maker's Guide to Building a Cash Machine for Life. Now this was what I had been repositioning myself for!

5) Long story short I devoured that book; devoured her 6 CD series "Expression of Your Power; devoured her first book "The Millionaire Maker"; attended her 2-day seminar in Dallas Texas and devoured 2 more of her CD series!

6) Since then I have changed! No more fear! Oh, trust me, it is GONE! I have a new mind-set, a new belief system, new goals, and a new plan for reaching those goals. I also have one less best friend; one new business partner, a husband who doesn't recognize nor understand his wife any longer; a toddler who is challenging the new me and is now in a new preschool, and a new professional mentor from The Family International Church in Pasadena, CA.

7) I also have new business ventures and activities. I have a new monthly column in The Family International Church newsletter - even though I do not attend the church! I have a new local business directory for minority & women owned businesses. I have a new speaking career in the works and I have a host of new literature I am currently finishing up and will be publishing between now and December of 2008 so I can launch a book tour and women's summit in 2009!

8) I have new websites coming - stay tuned. Right now you can check out www.hip2give.ning.com and soon there will be www.hipgiver.com and www.books4yourdestiny.com as well as the site for my inspirational speaking and women's summits: www.getliferightnow.com. Get ready world... big things are coming.

9) I have no limit thinking and a new joy in my life and a message that will renew and transform the hearts and minds of women everywhere. Believers shall not be deceived so long as I can help it! I have a message; I have hope and I have a vision. "Man devises his plan, but God directs his steps" Proverbs 16:3

10) Get ready world... big things are coming and I am no longer shy to say it!

Posted by ~Pastor D at 5:28 PM 0 comments

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Destiny's Journey


Some journeys are well traveled roads. Common, familiar and easy. We cruise along the path oblivious to the process as we habitually turn each corner, climb each hill and break each slope. Only to arrive, blink and wonder how we managed without incident or memory of the trip.

This journey - my journey - is not like that. This journey is one of reluctance, hesitance, unsurity, insecurity and yes, a moderate amount of fear.

As I open the window for you to view my progress, you will undoubtedly come to your own conclusion based upon the progress of your own journey - and your observations will be varied.

Some might say that I am making slow but steady progress toward a clear destination. Others may say that I am floundering and wandering aimlessly down a muddy road with too many directions to choose from.

I say my journey has just begun, although it started more than 10 years ago. I say I still have such a long, long way to go, although I am teetering on the precipice of completion. I say the journey has made me weary, leery and weak, although I trudge on with a strength and endurance that is beyond me. I say the path is muddy, with many obstacles, directions and difficulties still yet to come. However, my destination is clear - crazy, unimaginable, overwhelming and clear.

When this path first appeared it was like a hazy, dirt road on a foggy day. I peered at it without knowing what it was or where it was going - then tried to ignore it as inconsequential. When the path persisted I joked as to where it might lead, then still tried to dismiss it as a path not meant for me.

It was years before the view of the path cleared and I was able to see the destination more clearly. It was absurd to think that the reality of where this path could end up would be in a place far more outlandish than even my most absurd imaginings! OK, maybe - just maybe this path ended up in a very good place - but a place still not meant for me. Definitely not me.

Why not me? Who else but me, since I was the only one to see? Please, Dear God, not me! Yes, me. This path was meant for me.

And so I watched it, argued with it, denied it and tried to imagine a life without pursuing it.

Four - no five, has it already been five? Five years ago I accepted it. I stuck out a big toe like testing the cold water of a pool - then yanked my foot back like I so often would. I wrote about it, dreamed about it, and tried it on for size in the privacy of my dressing room of life. And by the way, I still watched it, argued with it, denied it and tried to imagine a life without pursuing it.

Three - sorry, I forgot - Four years ago I made up my mind. I packed my bags, said good bye to the sanity and sanctuary of friends and family who always had thought they understood me, and I took my first hesitant and frightened step.

In these last four years I have walked, sometimes trotted, but never quite run toward a goal I think is crazy. I have stopped, I have even sat down and I have wistfully looked back to a time when I did not know and could not see what was meant for me.

But I will not stop. I packed my bags (all my baggage), and made up my mind. Armed with nothing but 2 scriptures and a great deal of hope, I continue to trudge on driven by the surity that if - just if - I happen to arrive at this awesome, fearsome destination, it will be extraordinary, phenomenal and inconceivably wonderful. This destination...

A destination, a journey to a place that is called destiny. My destiny. Destiny's purpose in life. My God given purpose.

Sometimes while we travel, we see another driver, glance in that direction and never take note or give them another thought. Perhaps that is how you will see me.

Sometimes we see another traveler and something catches our eye. We may watch a moment, muse a moment or even briefly wonder... Then they continue on their own separate way and thoughts of them fade as quickly as they do. Perhaps that will be how you see me.

Other times we get caught in traffic, bunched up with drivers because of fate. And whether we cruise along peacefully or struggle with road rage, we share a community of progress, each with our own destination. Perhaps that will be how you experience me.

And on rare occasion on our own individual roads of life, we travel a path where we encounter another driver - seemingly traveling to the same basic place. At times they follow us and then we follow them. We may take note of who they are and what they drive - possibly even read a licence plate. We'll share a moment or even a long while - silently and separately together, with maybe a glance, a smile or a brief a wave of acknowledgement. Perhaps that will be how you experience me.

I cannot say how long this path will be for me, so whether you glance and move on - never to take notice; or whether you wonder a moment at who I am and where I'm going; or whether you follow a while, smile and wave or better yet, if you decide to stay for the journey, I invite you to come along for the ride.

***
Please click on the "Stuff From Before" link to Destiny's Journey to make your comments.